Feminist Friday

Yesterday the Senate blocked the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) bill. The current system requires that a rape or assault be reported to superiors within the chain of command. The bill would instead have reports be made to an independent military prosecutor. As Feministing pointed out, “The military is creating a system in which rape survivors must report their rapes to people who are friends with the rapists, or the rapists themselves. This obviously inhibits reporting.” No doubt Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the bill’s champion, will continue fighting for change regarding military sexual assault. Find out how your senator voted here, and let them know you’d like their support on this issue in the future.

In all of our post Oscar excitement it’s easy to forget that idolizing someone and understanding them are two very different things. This Buzzfeed article explains:

Saeed Jones: “You can’t eat beauty, it doesn’t feed you.” That’s the advice Lupita has said she heard from her mother again and again growing up. And yet, we hunger, right? Heben, I’m right there with you on Tumblr. I see an image of Lupita in yet another stunning gown and there’s just a little more air in my lungs than moments before. When she posts another picture to her Instagram account of her new manicure or a picture of her equally stunning brother, Peter , I can’t help but feel like a part of my identity has been affirmed. But, you know, I don’t like to talk about Lupita in what my family calls “mixed company.” I try to avoid conversations about her with co-workers or with white friends for fear that I’ll have to hear about Lupita’s “exotic” looks or “eloquence.” Those kinds of words, however complimentary in context, are code. And we know they aren’t really praise.

Florida woman Marissa Alexander is now facing a 60 year prison sentence for firing a warning shot in self defense. Her abusive ex-husband was attacking her when she fired a warning shot at the ceiling. No one was harmed. Yet, state prosecutor Angela Corey just tripled her charges. You can donate to her defense fund here.

You may have already heard that Quevenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx are starring in Sony’s remake of Annie, but have you seen the trailer? Don’t watch this in public because chances are it’ll make you cry.

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Alice Wilder is our Social Media Intern. She works on a variety of outreach projects for education and advocacy.